Vessel closure



., m, W355, o. BLITIZ 2,923,571

VESSEL CLOSURE Filed June 29, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

7"r'0 BL 'rz MzQM ATTORNEY Deco 1Q, 3935. Q, BLITZ 2,23,571

VESSEL CLOSURE Filed June 29, 1.934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 7 OTTO BL/rz 7 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1955 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 16 Claims.

My invention relates to vessel closures and more particularly to closures of the type used in conjunction with cooking receptacles.

It has heretofore been common practice to 5 form lids or covers for cooking vessels from a single blank providing thereon a centrally positioned knob or handle by which the same may be manually grasped. In case foods of a solid or semi-solid character are prepared in a liquid 10 medium, it is frequently necessary to strain the same; and to effect this operation it is common practice to either employ a separate implement or shift the cover on the vessel, thus exposing a relatively small portion of the mouth thereof 15 through which only the liquid may pass when the vessel is tilted to a pouring position. In this latter case the user is required to use both hands, one to manipulate the receptacle and the other to retain the cover in position. It is, therefore, obvious that if the contents of the vessel are heated, the hand of the operator used to restrain the cover during such draining operation may be subjected to 'sc'alds or burns from the rapidly escaping steam. Also, the cover is easily displaced,

thus permitting the escape of the solid material fromthe vessel along with the liquid contents.

My invention, on the other hand, overcomes these objections by a novel arrangement of parts and the employment of structure that will enable 30 one to effect straining the contents of the vessel without holding on to the cover.

It is, "therefore, an important object of my invention to provide a closure of such construc- 'tion, that it may be used for straining the con 35 tents of a vessel, without necessitating the use of the operators hand.

Another object of my invention, is the provision of a closure of such construction, whereby, it may be attached to the vessel so as to permit 40 movement thereof to various positions relative to the mouth of the vessel.

An additional object of my invention, is to provide an improved vessel closure employing a 'sub-frameadapted to be used as a strainer.

45 Another-object of my invention is the provision, in a device of the class described, of lock means for attaching and releasing the closure to and from the vessel.

H A further object of my invention, is the .pro-

50 visionof a vessel closure of the character described, composed of few and simple parts and which can also be economically manufactured.

Other objectsand advantages of my invention 'will-beapparent from a perusal of the following 55 description, forming a part of this specification,

but I do not limit myself to the embodiment of the invention herein described, as various forms may be adopted within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cooking vessel with a closure embodying one form of my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the vessel and closure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view taken from the bottom side of the closure, and shows the sub-frame and cover in normal closed position.

Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1, but illustrating the cover moved relative to the sub-frame, to expose the perforate lip thereof.

Figure 5 is an elevational view illustrating the sub-frame locked to the vessel, and the cover rotated to fully expose the sub-frame, a portion of the cover being broken away to illustrate the pivotal connection.

Figure -6 is a transverse sectional view taken in a plane indicated by line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional view of the coveran'd sub-frame connecting structure taken in a plane indicated by line l--'l of Figure 5, a portion of the associated structures being shown in elevation'for the purpose of clarity.

In terms of broad inclusion my vessel closure comprises a cover adapted to close the mouth of a receptacle, such as a pot or kettle. A sub-frame having a perforate lip portion is provided and is so connected to the cover that the cover may be moved relative thereto to expose a portion or all of the sub-frame as desired; and means, operative upon movementof the cover relative to the subframe, is provided for attaching andreleasing the sub-frame -to and from the receptacle.

In greater detail and with reference to the preferred construction illustrated .by the draw- 0 ings, my device comprises a cover 2 of conventional shape such as commonly employed for covering or closing the mouth of a vessel 3. In accordance with customary practice both cover and vessel are provided with handles l and 5 respectively for the convenience of the user.

A sub-frameB attached to cover'2 is .provided and is preferably formed with a vertically disposed rim 1, adapted to snugly fit within the mouth of the vessel. I prefer to form the subframe 8 with a lip portion 3, having a plurality ofapertures 9 to provide a strainer through which the liquid contents of the vessel may be drained.

.I-alsopreferto form the sub-frame 6 with a relatively large opening it] through which the contents of the vessel may be reached for sampling or stirring, without necessitating the removal of the sub-frame from the vessel. While I have shown the lip 8 formed integral with the sub: frame and of perforate sheet material, it is to be understood that the same may be separately formed of fine mesh-wire, or any suitable strainer material, and removably secured to the subframe, 'all without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Means is provided for movably connecting the cover to the sub-frame. This connecting means preferably comprises a cam or block II pivotally connected through link I2 and sleeve I3 to the center of the cover, and. slidably mounted on rod I4 which in turn'is fixedly secured to the subframe. I prefer that rod It shall extend transversely across opening III of the sub-frame order to assure maximum freedom of movement for the cam II. With the parts so connected it is apparent that the cover may be shifted relarelative to the sub-frame, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, to fully expose the same.

For attaching and releasing the sub-frame to and from the vessel I provide. means which is .operable upon the movement of the cover relative to the sub-frame. This means preferably comprises a pair of oppositely disposed lock arms I5' the arms may be extruded into the; aligned holes I8 in the rim of vessel 3.

With reference to Figure 3 it will be observed, that when the cover is concentrically positioned on the sub-frame, the lock arms I5 are held in retracted position by the spring extensions I6, and the closure is free for removal or. replacement with respect to the vessel. However, upon movement of the cover to an eccentric position on the sub-frame, as illustrated by Figures 4 through 7, the cam I I slides upon rod I4 intov wedging 'engagement with the spring extensions I6, thereby forcing the lock arms outwardly into the holes I8 of thevessel. In such position the sub-frame and cover are firmly secured to the vessel and the entire assembly may be freely tilted in order to drain the contents. 7

To facilitate the normal positioning of thesubframe on the vessel and the alignment of. arms I5 with holes I8, a lug I9 projecting outwardly from rim 1 of the sub-frame is provided. This lug is so positioned with relation to the lock arms, that when seated in recess 20 formed in thelip of the vessel,.the arms I5are aligned with holes I8. As a convenience in effecting this alignment,

I prefer that the handle 4 of the cover should I secured to the lip 8 adjacent the irmer edge thereof.

From the preceding description it is seen that when the cover and sub-frame are concentrically positioned the closure functions as an ordinary cover which may, with equal convenience, be

placed on or removed from the receptacle; that when the cover is moved relative to the subframe, the closure becomes locked to the vessel, whereby the operator may with one hand manipulate the entire assembly as a unit, to effect 7 draining of the contents. 7

I claim: 1. Avessel closure comprising a cover, a subframe in axial alinement therewith and movably 7 connected thereto, and lock means operable upon 10 fr'ame pivotally and slidably connected thereto, and lock means operable upon sliding the cover transversely of the sub-frame for securing the sub-frame to the vessel.

3. A vessel closure comprising a cover, a subframe movably connected thereto, and lock 2:)

means disposed on the sub-frame and adapted to be actuated by transverse motion of the cover relative to the sub-frame for locking the subframe tothe vessel.

4. A vessel closure comprising a cover, a sub- 5 frame, means comprising a cam slidably mounted on saidsub-frame and pivotally attached to said cover for movably connecting. the cover to the sub-frame, and lock means operable upon movement of the cover relative to the sub-frame for 30 securing the sub-frame to the vessel.

5. A vessel closure comprising a cover, a subframe movably connected thereto, means'disposed on said sub-frame for normally positioning the sub-frame in the mouth of the vessel,

and lock means operableupon motion of the cover transversely of the sub-frame for securing the sub-frame to the vessel.

6. A vessel closure comprising a cover, a subframe having 'a perforate lip portion, means for 40} movably connecting the cover to the sub-frame, and lock means operable upon movement of the cover transversely of the sub-frame for securing the sub-frame to the vessel.

7. A vessel closure comprising a cover, an 5 open sub-frame having a perforate lip portion, means for movably connecting the cover to the sub-frame, and lock means operable upon movement of the cover relative to the sub-frame for securing the sub-frame to the vessel. 50

be moved toiexpose said strainer, and lock means 55 operable upon movement of the cover relative to the sub-frame for securing the sub-frame to the vessel.

9. A vessel closure comprising a cover, a subframe having a strainer disposed adjacent one 60,

side thereof, means for movably connecting the cover to the sub-frame whereby the cover may be moved to expose said strainer, means disposed on the sub-frame for retaining the cover in open position relative to said strainer and lock means operable upon movement of the cover relative to the sub-frame for securing the subframe to the vessel.

'10. A vessel closure comprising a cover, a subframe, means slidably mounted on the .subframe and hinged to the cover whereby the cover may be slid relative to the sub-frame and swung outwardly therefrom to expose the same,

and lock means operable upon sliding the cover 5 relative to the sub-frame for securing the subframe to the vessel;

11. A vessel closure comprising a cover, a subframe having a perforate lip portion and a relatively large open portion, means for slidably and pivotally connecting the cover to the sub-frame whereby the cover may be slid relative to the sub-frame to expose said. lip portion and rotated to expose said open portion, and lock means onerable upon movement of the cover relative to the sub-frame for securing the sub-frame to the vessel.

12. A vessel closure comprising a cover, a subframe movably connected thereto, and resilient lock means operable upon movement of the cover relative to the sub-frame for securing the sub-frame to the vessel.

13. A vessel closure comprising a cover, a subframe movably connected thereto, and a pair of oppositely extending resilient lock arms operable upon movement of the cover relative to the subframe for securing the sub-frame to the vessel.

14. A vessel closure comprising a cover, a subframe having a substantial opening therein, a

rod mounted on the sub-frame and extending transversely across said opening, a cam slidably mounted on said rod and attached to the cover, and lock means operable by movement of the cam along said rod for securing the sub-frame to the vessel.

15. A vessel closure comprising a cover, a subframe, means comprising a cam slidably mounted on the sub-frame and attached to the cover for movably connecting the cover to the sub-frame, and a pair of resilient arms disposed on the sub-frame and adapted to be actuated upon slidable movement of the cam relative to the sub-frame for locking the sub-frame to the vessel.

16. A vessel closure comprising a cover, a subframe, means comprising a cam slidably mounted on the sub-frame and attached to the cover for movably connecting the cover to the sub-frame, and a pair of resilient arms operable simultaneously upon sildable movement of the cam relative to the sub-frame for locking the sub-frame to the vessel.

OTTO BLITZ. 

